Derek Skees

Here are some of the ridiculous pieces of legislation that have been put forward in 2017 by some of the crackpot Republicans who control the Montana legislature. This is not a joke. These are real bills, and they are currently taking priority in the Montana legislature over anything legitimate that would create jobs or help people afford healthcare.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Jim Nelson has an excellent guest post up about the presidential race “So What Next,” so I won’t add anything here. Here’s what I’ll say now about some other races: Victories for Steve Bullock (he’s up by about 12,000 votes over Gianforte at the…

Last night the Kalispell School Board continued its important and brave work by moving along an update to their non-discrimination policy that would include protections for LGBT students. While a large majority of those in attendance wore light blue shirts and were supportive of the policy change a few voices decided to take the opportunity to spread hate. One would hope this type of behavior would be limited to extremists, however some elected officials in our state continue to take part.

Montanans from across the state are gathering in Helena to oppose TEA Party Sen. Jennifer Fielder’s plans to takeover our public lands with SB 215 and a “package” of other such bills. It’s ridiculous that the Lee Newspaper story on the land grab doesn’t even mention where Fielder got the idea,…

The race for Montana Supreme Court is critically important to all Montanans and it is very important that Justice Mike Wheat be re-elected to the Court. Wheat’s experience, qualifications, and personal integrity make him a fair and impartial judge. He has a solid reputation and…

by Cowgirl Twelve Montana lawmakers are backing a bill to arrest any federal officials who try to implement the Affordable Care Act in Montana. The state legislators voiced their support for such a scheme in a survey from Ron Paul’s “Campaign for Liberty” TEA Party, on which they…

A Montana case is the next battle in the fight to keep elections from being for sale to the highest bidder by keeping campaign finance limits in place. Now, a group of leading national legal non-profit advocacy groups including Free Speech for People, former Montana Supreme Court…

The votes are in and the favorites generally won their races last night. Walsh, Lewis, Zinke, Daines. Resources were mattered. Zinke and Walsh had them, and it made the difference. Matt Rosendale was a bit surprising given that he spent about even with Zinke, but…

The Montana Human Rights Network has uncovered another connection between Hope Pregnancy Ministries/Clear Choice Clinic, Michelle Reimer, director of the Hope Pregnancy Ministries, purchased All Families Clinic’s former building location and kicked Susan Cahill out ten years ago. Susan Cahill then was forced to find another…

As you all know, Montana Republicans are a nativist and xenophobic crew, who hurl “out-of-state” as a nasty insult and love to tout the number of generations back that their lineage has lived in Montana. Many a pale chest is thumped mightily as if these…

The vice-Chair of the state Republican Party, Sen. Jennifer Fielder promoted the gathering of an extreme anti-government group appeared as a keynote speaker at the group’s event. But when a reporter showed up, “she quickly distanced herself from [Defend Rural America leader Kirk] MacKenzie when…

2014 is going to be a great year for blogging. The former TEA Party Republican legislator and nullification nutjob from the Flathead who proudly marched in a Memorial day parade wearing the confederate flag says he’s running for the Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in Montana….

TEA Party republicans are attempting distance themselves from a group they promoted and for which they appeared as keynote speakers after a local reporter started asking questions. However, in the same news story, the lawmakers say they plan to implement the very group’s ideas. Here’s…

State Rep. Mike Miller (R-Helmville) is the latest Republican legislator under investigation for illegal campaign activity, the AP reported. His name was found in a box of documents in a meth house which later became the subject of a brilliant work of national investigative journalism. In a full-hour…